Knock-down tvprornamental tree



Jan. 31, 1956 B. Y. JAMES KNOCK-DOWN TYPE ORNAMENTAL TREE STRUCTURE Filed Sept. 21, 1955 INVENTOR. 6/'// K James Mme/vex lia ed. Stews Pa e mocnnuwn .ttpnetmintsm This STRUCTURE This invention relates to the art ofdecoration and beautification, the primary object being to provide an article made from a plurality of initially flat figures taking the shape of a star polygon and having means of interconnection either to adapt the same for shipment and storage or to present a medallion, and further adapted for subsequent formation into an article simulating a tree.

Another important object of the present invention is to provide substantially star-shaped figures for use in producing a decorative article preformed with radial lines of bend through the fingers thereof and radial lines of fold therebetween so that each figure may be shaped in the form of a cup prior to threading the same upon a central pin to produce the finished simulated tree.

Other objects include the way in which the aforementioned lines of bend present radial ribs extending longitudinally of the fingers and the radial lines of fold present valleys between the fingers; the manner of so arranging the figures upon the supporting pin to dispose the figures Within valleys therebelow; the manner of proportioning the fingers as to size so that the finished article is in the nature of a frusto-conical configuration; the way in which the figures are arranged in pairs and spaced apart throughout the length of the supporting pin; and many additional more minor objects all of which will be made clear as the following specification progresses.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a knockdown-type ornament pursuant to the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view thereof.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of one of the figures forming the same.

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line IV-IV of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the article shown in Fig. 3 after the same has been shaped into the form of a cup.

Fig. 7 is a side elevational view of an ornament in the form of a tree structure utilizing the figures shaped as shown in Fig. 6; and

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary, cross-sectional view illustrating the manner of mounting the figures upon a supporting pin therefor.

The ornaments shown in Figs. 2 and 7 respectively of the drawing, are composed of a plurality of figures it? such as illustrated in Figs. 3 and 6, taking the form of a star polygon whereby to present a plurality of fingers 12 spaced equally and radiating from a central hole 14.

The figures 10 may be made from say suitable material preferably of the metal foil such as aluminum or the like. The fingers 12 are triangular-shaped, presenting a pair of edges 16 and 18 that converge as the outermost ends of the fingers 12 are approached and that merge with a central longitudinal line of bend 20 initially formed taken on line VV of 2,732,646 ....Paten.. d Jam 1956 in eachfingerulZ respectively. The lines of bend 20 radiate from;the hole 14 as do lines of fold 22 midway between the lines of bend 20. I 1

V Consequently, the initially fiat figure 10 may be shaped into theformpfja fanciful cup;such as illustrated in Fig. 6 of the drawing, whereinlthe; fingers 12 extend downwardly and outwardly from the hole 14' in spider-like or spoke-like fashion. fWhen. the figure 16 is so formed, the lines of bend 20"preser'1t ridges extending the full length of. the fingers ,12, ren,dering the latter substantially VL-shaped. in transverse cross-section, and the linesof fold 22 present valleys extending, radiallyfrom' the hole 14 between the fingers 12, all as isclear in Fig. 4 ofthe drawing." It is to be noted that the relatively converging edges 16 and 18 extend outwardly from the outermost ends of the lines of fold 22.

In order to produce the proper efiect, particularly when the star-shaped figure 10 is formed as in Fig. 6, and utilized to simulate a tree, the material from which the figure 10 is made is crinkled as at 24 transversely of the fingers 12 and through-out the lengths thereof. Such crinkling will remain in the fingers 12 even after forming into the shape of a cup and mounting upon a sup porting pin 26 particularly if the figure 10 is made from metal foil or similar substance.

It is to be preferred that the figures it) be initially mounted on a suitable bolt-nut type of supporting pin 23 in the manner shown in Fig. 2 of the drawing to facilitate packaging and storing. When the body fat thus formed is to be placed in use, it may either be utilized in its packaged condition as shown in Fig. 2 as a medallion, or mounted on pin 26 to present a simulated tree as shown in Fig. 7. The figures 19 are of various sizes with the fingers 12 progressively decreasing in length as one end of the superimposed stack thereof is approached.

The pin 26 is composed of a plurality of interlocking sections which are releasably interconnected by means of pin-cavity structure 32, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 8. Such pins extend through the openings 14 to mount the figures 10 of the article shown in Fig. 7, in spaced-apart relationship throughout the length of the sectional pin 26. A base plate 34 on the lowermost end of the pin 26 serves as a support for the entire tree-like article and a conical cap 36 on the uppermost end of the pin 26 holds the proximal figure 10 in place and furnishes a finished appearance to the article.

The figures 10 are relatively offset throughout the length of the pin 26 so that all of the fingers 12, above the lowermost figure 10, lie within an underlying valley presented by the lines of fold 22. It is to be preferred that the figures 10 be prepared in identical pairs. In other words, the first two figures 10 adjacent the base 34, will be identical in size, but the uppermost of the pair thereof will appear smaller because of the fact that it is spaced above its corresponding figure 10 therebelow through the sectional construction of the supporting pin 26. It is manifest that colors may be chosen to suit the desires of the manufacturer and when the articles 10 are arranged as shown in Fig. 7 of the drawing, the finished article will truly simulate a tree and the various fingers 12 will be representative of the branches and bows, as well as other foliage forming a part of various types of trees, particularly those of the pine family.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A decoration in the nature of a simulated tree and comprising an elongated, sectional standard including a plurality of end-to-end, interconnected sections, each section having a pin extending outwardly from one end thereof and a pin-receiving cavity therein at its opposite end; a base plate having a pin-receiving cavity therein; and a plurality of star-shaped figures, each having a number of radially extending fingers, each figure being provided with a central, pin-receiving hole having a diameter less than the diameter of the sections, each finger being provided with a central, longitudinal line'of bend radiating outwardly from a point adjacent the corresponding hole, there being a line of fold interconnecting proximal fingers of each figure and terminating at a point spaced from the corresponding hole, said figures being mounted on the standard in superimposed relationship, each between a pair of proximal sections, said lines of fold and bend cooperating to present alternate ridges and valleys in the figures.

2. In a decoration as set forth in claim 1 wherein the lines of bend of each figure are in alignment with the lines of fold of the next adjacent figure, the lengths of the fingers progressively increasing as the base plate is approached.

3. In a decoration as set forth in claim 2 wherein said fingers are inclineddownwardly frorrr'said points toward the base plate when the figures are bent and folded along the lines of bend and fold respectively, presenting a substantially fiat, central portion between adjoining sections of the standard.

4-. In a decoration as set forth in claim 3 wherein said fingers have substantially linear, outwardly converging edges, the latter extending downwardly within the valley between adjoining fingers of the figure therebelow in close, proximal relationship thereto.

Abbott May 21, 1918 Fridinger Sept. 23, 1952 

